'Untouched' biscuit tin among finds unearthed in secret bunker beneath Yorkshire school
An old World War Two bomb shelter has been uncovered during construction work in Shipley.
Building works for the new Health, Well-being and Community Campus at the former St Walburga's School building in Farfield Road is currently underway following £3 million in funding from the Shipley Towns Fund. And while carrying out the extensive renovations, workers have uncovered a Second World War bomb shelter.
Inside, they found an eroded biscuit tin from the 1940s as well as one of the original school boilers, with its plate still intact.
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Director James Wood, of local contactors Whitaker and Leach said: "We were aware there was a bomb shelter on site, but the exact location and scale were not known. We are experienced in working on sites with various challenges but this shelter has really intrigued everyone working here.
"We discovered the extent of the shelter during the excavations and we couldn’t believe what we had uncovered. To find the biscuit tin untouched since the second world war was incredible, it’s like stepping back in time."
Designed by architects Rance Booth Smith, the campus will include a new atrium, communal space and gardens which will be run by The Cellar Trust. Its mission will be to provide health and well-being support across the area by working with other groups and organisations.
The Cellar Trust CEO Kim Shutler said: "It is exciting to think that in preparing this wonderful building for a long future serving the people of Shipley for years to come, it has given us a glimpse of its incredible past.
"The building, which has been a fixture in Shipley for generations, has long served as a school, but little is publicly known about its history. As restoration work progresses, we’re hoping to compile as much information as possible and we’re calling on the community for their recollections and stories.
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“We’d love to collate this heritage, and we’re committed to preserving the building’s historical integrity while giving it a new lease on life."
An additional £600,000 in funding for the campus is also coming from match funding, by building collateral from The Cellar Trust. The £3 million comes from the Government Towns Fund, which is part of their plan to boost the economies of towns across the UK.
This has secured £25 million for project in Shipley.
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Alex Ross-Shaw said: "This is an unbelievably interesting discovery. It was wonderful to hear that The Cellar Trust plans to display any uncovered artefacts proudly in the newly-renovated centre when it opens in 2025.
"The new centre will transform the way mental health and well-being services are delivered in Shipley, so it’s really special to unearth the way the building also supported the people of Shipley in the past."
Chair of the Shipley Towns Fund Adam Clerkin said: "When we approve funding for any work, we’re primarily thinking about the positive impact a project will have on the area for years to come so to get such an incredible glimpse into the past while doing so is almost unbelievable. It will be fascinating to hear more about the building’s history as the work progresses."
If you have any photos or historical materials which could shed a light on the history of St Walburga's and its place in the community, you can email them to marketing@thecellartrust.org.